Manhattan Movie Mania

For those who know me personally, you'll know that most of my paycheques are spent on one of 2 things - travel or movies.  And every once in a while the two come together.

The obvious is when I attend different film festivals during my travels, but I also like to do a little movie shopping where ever I go and have much to say on the topic.  For those who are not avid collectors (or travelers), one of the first things is to make sure you'll be able to play what you buy overseas at home.  I have a region-free DVD player for this purpose, though most DVDs will play on a computer, blu-rays are much trickier (though all-region blu-ray players seem to be getting cheaper).  If you're still unsure, then your safest bet is to buy all your movies within North America.  Foreign films are usually easiest to find in the country from which they originate, just make sure they have English subtitles or you understand the original language.  Also if you're an anti-fullscreen fanatic like me, it's worthwhile to learn the word for "widescreen" (if you don't know what the terms "full screen" and "widescreen" mean, we cannot continue to be friends until you've read this.) and keep in mind anything from the early 50's or older will not be widescreen, so they're safe to buy indiscriminately. Many countries impose fines or penalties if you are caught with bootleg movies, therefore I don't encourage purchasing unlicensed discs.

While I was in New York last month, I made an effort to check out a few stores, where I came across some bargains and rare finds.  Note:  These are not your slick large chain stores with the shiny displays of the lastest Fast & Furious movie, expect a little grim, have some patience, and be prepared to be surrounded by collector geeks.

The DVD Funhouse is a cramped store on Broadway near Union Square, I found it one night last year on my way to The Strand bookstore (which is almost kiddie corner from this place).  They feature a good - but incomplete - selection of steeply discounted movies.  Most discs are new, they stock mostly DVDs with a little Blu-ray, and the majority of the titles are all under $10.  If I had to guess, I would say these are excess stock of blockbusters from years past that never sold at larger retailers.  I've amused at the horrible reviews this place gets on google, it's a discount store for bargain movie hunters, not an HMV.  As a frequenter of Union Square, I intend to stop by here every visit, I think it's a good spot for deals. 

Also nearby is an Entertainment Outlet, with a wider selection than DVD Funhouse including more obscure & classic titles.  This place requires a LOT of patience though, be prepared to crouch and flip through bins.  There are walls of new regular-prices movies, discounted $5.99 (average) titles in the middle aisles, and steeply discounted $3.99 DVDs in bins sitting on the floor (the latter two in no particular order).  They sell a mix of new and used movies, again mostly DVD, but they do have some blu-rays and even a Criterion section.  I would recommend this place for avid collectors, bring some hand sanitizer though as the cases are dusty.

Academy Records is another collector's haven, though they advertise a movie selection this place is more of a music collector's dream, especially if you buy records and/or are a fan of classical/jazz/older music.  I only glanced at the classical section and found it not only separated by composer but also by musical period (ie. mideval, pre-classical, etc. which blew my mind).  Video-wise there are a lot of DVDs of classical music performances, but when it comes to actual movies, the DVD/Blu-ray selection is a bit slim.

All of the above are good spots, but be prepared to leave your heart and life savings behind at Kim's Video in the East Village.  Odds are, if you've ever searched for it fruitlessly, it'll be here.  For those who frequented Suspected Video on Queen Street before it burned down :( Kim's is just like Suspect except everything is for purchase!  It's roughly the same size, building in a similar state of disrepair (haha) with titles organized by country, then director with special sections for new releases, blu-rays, eras, and other special collections.  For North American titles they are separated by decade.  There are collections here I never knew existed, things I would never have thought to search for even on-line!  If you're into old hollywood there are complete studio collections from the Hollywood Code era, silent era, etc.  Everything is full price but you'll want to buy it anyway, this is one of my new favourite places in NYC.

Ich verstehe nicht

I received my first piece of German correspondence today.  It came in the form of an email ticket confirmation, presumably containing details for a Cirque du Soleil show I'm going to see in Salzburg this fall.  I was highly amused about being addressed as Frau Wong, less so about getting all my ticket pick-up details in a language that I had no hope of deciphering.

Thank god for Goggle translate.  In this age of smartphones, one would also be wise to keep a translation app on their phone as well.  Next up I'd like to see some technology where I can snap a photo of a foreign sign and have it deciphered for me.  Those of you who are less tech-dependent, or just don't want to pay crazy data charges, I would suggest looking over all travel confirmations, bookings, tickets and directions before you leave and printing off translated copies.  Keep the 2 versions stapled together, one for you to refer to, the other in case you need to show it to someone in that country for further information.

Phrase books never hurt anyone either, but when it comes to those, pricier isn't always better.  Every book as the essentials, it's just a matter of finding it in a pinch.  Go to a used book store or discount book store (in Toronto that means BMV) and see what they got, flip through before your trip and flat the pages you think you're most likely to use.  Alternatively make up your own list with Goggle Translate and print a copy to take with you.

Some words/phrases I make a point to learn:

I don't know
I don't understand
washroom/toilet
thank you
yes
no
English
cup of tea please
hot water please (as I usually bring my own tea when I travel)
no beef (because I don't eat it)

Toronto to Vancouver for less than $500? *brain explodes*

Consider this an elaborate re-tweet.  I was just going through this week's Travel Alerts email and followed a link for cheap flights to Vancouver between Jun 16-21st on Sun Wing Airlines (which I'm not familiar with).  It looks like the real deal with a return flight leaving June 16th, and coming back June 21st for $482.01.

I couldn't even get a flight under $600 when I went flew to Vancouver 10 years ago!

So if you're budgeted for an extended weekend getaway next month I suggest you check this deal out, doesn't come up too often.

http://www.flysunwing.com/default.asp

A Few of My Favourite Things - Favourite Montreal Things That Is...

For those of you who are Southern Ontario dwellers, you will note that the weather is finally starting to look at little bit better, even a promise of temps reaching 20 later this week (albeit with showers but given the last few week's weather, I'll suck it up and take it).

There are a few things every year that signal the approach of warmer weather to me... when I start to wear sandals into the office (as opposed to bringing a pair to change when I go home), my best friend's Victoria Day bbq in the beaches, and a trip to Montreal before all the Grand Prix madness starts.  I've been to Montreal during different times of the year and have made about 10 or so trips in the past 8 years, so I've become pretty familiarized with Downtown and the Plateau areas, etc

Admittedly frequent trips with similar purposes and often the same people year after year can turn you into a creature of habit.  My interests and tastes have changed throughout the years, I'm no longer obsessed with getting into the after hours club with the best sound system in North America for starters (incidentally I have made it to Stereo in years past).  What I now aim for is a mix of old and new, this works better some years than others depending how many days I'm there and who I'm with.

Naturally the only things I can speak of are those that I've experienced, in exchange I would love to hear from you some of your favourite things to do on a leisure weekend in Montreal and maybe I can incorporate some of those into my trip next month.  Please forgive me if I make a few errors in my references (and please feel free to correct), I'm doing this with a guidebook and much as I go there, it's not my home city.

1. Mont Royale -- This is a must for everyone who enjoys a little nature, and a free panoramic city view.  The greatest thing about Mont Royale is that it's situated right in the middle of city, it's walkable from the hotel strip on Sherbrooke, McGill Campus, the Plateau, even downtown and the Latin Quarter if you can stand to walk for about 30mins.  Before taking another walk that is, usually on the trail that leads all the way to the top of the mountain to the lookout and the cross that is visible throughout the city.  I've been up there a couple times, I hope to see the sunrise one of these years, I think it'd be an interesting experience.
2. Parc du Mont Royale  -- just below Mont Royale is large stretch of green space, fields, playgrounds, picnic tables, walking trails and is the home of the Tam Tam Festival every Sunday during the summer.  It was designed by the same guy who created Central Park in New York.  The Tam Tam festival is not only one of the great drum circles, but features many vendors and hawkers selling their wares spread out on blankets in the park, while a lot of stuff is trinkety tourist crap, you can still find some unique crafts and jewelry in the midst of all the sellers.  Tam Tam aside, my favourite thing to do in Mount Royal Park is to toss the frisbee around, the grass is always so lush and fresh that I can never resist taking off my shoes to play.  It's also not bad to nap in (next time you arrive on a 4am bus to save a few bucks) but I suspect those days might be behind me as well.
3. Maison Simons -- http://www.simons.ca/  Outside of Macy's in NYC, Simons is probably my favourite fashion department store in the world to shop at.  Which might surprise some of you considering I also frequent places such as Harrods, El Corte Ingles, etc.  Of all the people that I've brought along to Simons, guy or girl, I don't think there's a single person who disliked the place.  What they offer is a wide variety of clothing for men and women, in a multitude of styles AND prices.  In a one stop shop I can pick up basics by their store brand (Twik) starting at under $10 for sale items to the latest styles by international designers, selection ranges from tanks & tees to formal dresses, purses, scarves, and there's even an extensive swimwear and sportswear collection and lingerie upstairs.  My guy friends walk out with everything from graphic tees to dress shirts.  Everytime I go in I forewarn my friends that they will not hear from me again for at least an hour and a half.
4. Chez Jose -- http://www.yelp.ca/biz/chez-jose-montreal  A little independent cafe in the Plateau that a friend introduced us to in 2003 and has been one of my favourite cafes since.  Delicious crepes, baked goods, and coffee at affordable prices.  It's a tiny shop so during peak hours you might have to stand at the entrance for 10-15 mins before a table opens up, and if you show up with 8 people (as I have done before) don't expect to be sitting together, but the character and atmosphere of the place will make you fall in love.
5. Patati Patata -- http://www.yelp.ca/biz/patati-patata---friterie-de-luxe-montreal  Another dirt cheap spot serving up delicious food, this one more like a greasy spoon establishment though.  They make everything fresh that you can observe from over the counter so there's usually a bit of a wait for your food (nevermind the potential lines).  All burgers are in slider size so order a few because you'll definitely want more, they are also the only place I know of that makes slider-size TOFU burgers!  I'm not talking about some pre-processed Yves veggie burger, but a thick slice of firm tofu marinated and grilled.  I sometimes lie in bed at night and dream of this tofu burger lol.  I'm also always torn between salad or fries, both are so good.  It'd be a miracle to get a seat inside this narrow joint tho, so head outside to the parkette across the street to eat.
6. Frite Alors -- http://www.fritealors.com/en/indexb_a.html  Who in their right minds goes to Quebec and then doesn't eat poutine right?  So chances are if you're in Montreal you're going to come across one of the Frite Alors restaurants.  Pop in for some poutine, they have a pretty great selection and the portions are pretty big.  If you're a meat eater, try the smoke sausage with gruyere.
7. Bar B Barn -- http://www.barbbarn.ca/  My friend Chris turned me onto this place and I've been a few times since.  You gotta be a big meat-eater to survive this place (I learned the hard way one year), otherwise plan ahead to share a meal with another weakling.  They take the "barn" part to heart with the wooden stables decore, and their main focus is chicken & ribs.  It's good value, you get a decent portion for your money, it's a great casual dinner hangout (my pick for pre-hockey game meal)
8. Old Montreal and The Bonsecours Market -- http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm  Another lovely place for a walk, this is the historical center of Montreal that is most reminiscent of Europe with the water nearby and horse-drawn carriages trotting along the cobblestone streets.  Within Old Montreal is the Bonsecours Market, housed in an impressive Neo-Classical building.  With sections stores selling different items, my favourite is shop that sells the ethnic instruments, I have been known to walk out with a tam tam or rain stick.
9. Fairmount Bagels -- http://www.fairmountbagel.com/  My bagel intake isn't what it used to be, but bagels are a Montreal staple and I still never go without stopping in at Fairmount for my fix.  The best part is, they're open 24 hours so I can stop in any time to see their bakers working on a fresh batch of handmade goodness.  A passerby once witnessed me holding my dozen bagels so lovingly outside the store that he asked to take my photo.  True story!

There you have it, just a few of my recos and haunts.  The other Montreal staple food aside from the poutine and bagels of course is the smoked meat.  Unfortunately I did not get to visit Montreal until years after I'd stopped eating beef so I've never partook in this tradition.  I'm sure many of my beef-eating friends will implore you not to miss out on Reubens though http://www.yelp.ca/biz/reubens-deli-montreal .  Now, please, it's your turn, add in the comments your favourite things to see/eat/do in Montreal!

Raw beef and cocktails - Venice vacation or recipe for disaster?

Salutations and happy Monday to all you travelers (well, it remains to be seen about the "happy" part but...)  J leaves our humble offices for a year in Central and South America, V has jetted off on vacation to New Orleans, and L is busy planning her month-long trip to Australia while waiting for her boss to approve her vacation time (come on boss, give the girl a break!)

Not wanting to be completely left out of the fun, I booked myself a plane ticket to Venice in the fall.  This will just be a European departure point, I hope to see a handful of cities before I have to come back.

Venice has always struck me as having a distinct culture even within Italy; streets of water, decorative masks, and beautiful glass to start.  A quick google search has led me to 2 more Venetian inventions that I wasn't previously aware of:

Carpaccio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpaccio
Typically thinly sliced raw beef with seasonings, which I will not eat (I'm adverse to the "beef" part as opposed to the "raw") Carpaccio can also be raw fish, which I will eat.

Bellini
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellini_%28cocktail%29
A delicious fruity cocktail (yes, a chick drink but don't let that stop you from experiencing the culture!) made with peaches, champagne, and other ingredients.

I'm not sure the two are exactly complimentary to each other but I will make an effort to sample both (especially the bellini, as it's already a favourite cocktail of mine) while I'm there.  Also expect many coffee beverages to be ingested.

Sidenote:  In my attempts to experience culture in their native homes and bring back relevant souvenirs, I'm kinda glad Venetian blinds weren't actually invented in Venice.